Christmas Vacation & Living Nativity

Jarrett's Christmas vacation started on December 23rd (but to us it began on Friday night the 20th...LOL) and we had a few things on our bucket list to do this year...

SANTA!! Every year  the Lawrence Fire Department drives the firetrucks and a trailer with Santa in our neighborhood!  We wait to hear the sirens and run outside to wave!

Santa threw lollipops for the kids, and the girls enjoyed the lights on the engines, but didn't like the sirens. 

 

Mama and a cold Maddie. She told me, "Too loud. Too scary. Eat candy?" LOL. 

Next on our list was to go to Palmer Square in Princeton to see the giant Christmas tree and drink some hot cocoa from Bent Spoon...

Daddy and Lindsay

 We strolled around and looked at the lights and took some photos until we heard singing... there were real carolers singing!! It was just like a movie ;) The girls love, love, loved watching the high schools sing, and I caught Lindsay singing right along to "Fa La La La".

Maddie (Snowman) Lulu (Elf) 

Daddy and Lindsay had an afternoon Daddy-Daughter date to see movie "Frozen". Lindsay loved the movie, and Jarrett said he had fun afterwards doing the Dance Revolution game in the lobby with her!

Cheese!!

One of the things I was dying to do this Christmas Season was visit the Living Nativity in Mount Laurel. This was the first time I have visited a living nativity, and it was awesome!! The church was so organized, and put a lot of time and detail in the sets, performances and message. Jarrett and I kept thinking about the actors in the cold every weekend in December telling the Christmas story...What an incredibly special gift and ministry for the community! 

So cool!! Fantastic "market" with Roman soldiers. They looked pretty intimidating!

There was 13+ scenes, and they told the story of Jesus's birth, but continued through to Jesus life, death and Resurrection. I wondered if the girls would make the connection between the story we read every year and seeing it told live. Lindsay was so excited, and watched intently. She told me "Hey Mama, that is a story I've heard before!" She asked me lots of questions later, and they were wonderful teachable moments.

Rolling the stone away to an empty tomb..

Jesus calming the storm. The boat really moved!

Madison was cracking me (and everyone around us) up at the scenes by pointing and saying, "Mama Jesus! Jesus!" at every man wearing a robe.

Madison loved the animals, and kept telling me, "Mama, pet horse? Pet sheep?"
The people were suspended in air singing Hallelujah Chorus.

I was a little curious how they were going to portray the Crucifixion, especially with such a young audience. They showed the three crosses, (after Jesus had died) and a man narrated the events and salvation Jesus made possible by his death.

Jesus ascending into heaven. 

The living nativity was such a precious way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. I loved seeing the girls make the connection between the stories they hear in the Bible, and realizing these truths and promises are real.  For the word of God is alive and active. Hebrews 4:12